“You should not be here.”
Out of all the beings the High General expected to see in the doorway to his private bedroom, a young red and silver Ksa was not among them. Not one of his Ksa anyway.
“I know I shouldn’t. But you are one of the few people I can talk to right now.”
“You can not talk to any of your siblings? Your demonic oldest brother, your little whore sibling, your pathetic quadruplet sisters?”
“If this was not as… huge as I think it is, I would slice your throat where you stand, High General or not. If you understood family and I had insulted your blood, you would do the same. Would not even blame you. This is important though.”
Photeianos switched on a light, then strode towards the bed.
“Very well, Veekay. Come on in.”
Veekay hesitated, then followed, pulling the door behind him, but not closing it completely. Despite his simple looks, Veekay was constantly scanning for threats, and leaving the door slightly ajar meant he could make a fast escape if he needed it.
He watched as Photeianos sat down, throwing the covers to one side. Photeianos wanted him to sit down next to him, but Veekay politely refused. Veekay knew all too well how Photeianos treated his normal Ksa, and didn’t want the High General getting too… touchy. Even if he was the brother of someone Photeianos now hated more than invading Vohra.
“So, what do you want?”
“Did you hear the voice?”
Photeianos paused, his eyes darting up from Veekay’s chest up to his face. “The… voice…”
“Yes, the voice.”
“The voice.”
Veekay rolled his eyes. “Yes. The voice of Stasis. The one commanding you to spread religion among the universe, in order to purge the evils of time.”
Photeianos stood up. At 2.5m tall, he towered over Veekay, but his intimidation meant nothing to the Ksa.
“How the fuck do you know about that? Talk, you abomination!”
Veekay smiled. “How do you think? You’re a Deitic. Or the child of one.”
“And you are as well?” Photeianos seemed shocked. “Your siblings show no trace of anything… Deitic. If anything, they are as anti-Deitic as they could be.”
“Well, I am. I heard the voice. I heard his stupid words. Then I thought about them. Then I asked Elkay and he was worried that you were insane enough to actually act out on the whole damn thing.”
Photeianos blinked with confusion. “Little Elkay sent you here. Of course, I should have known that Elkay would spill to you.”
“These sort of things are important to know, High General. For your own safety. Your Ksa know, don’t they?”
“They do. But this whole… thing does not concern you or Elkay.” Photeianos stood up, his wings open. “What is it to anyone whether I…”
“You’re not going to do as Stasis demands.” Veekay stood his ground, his own wings, made out of red, telekinetic energy, unfurling. “You won’t do anything. Not if you want any chance of, I don’t know, retaining your power. You have your dealings with Deitics, keeping them away. The masses can deal with that, because of the safety you’ve created.”
“This is…”
“This is far different. This is a breach on the free will that all Rethans believe in. You try and force a religion on us, the Rethans will tear us apart.”
Photeianos stared at Veekay. “What do you mean… ‘us’…”
“Anyone connected to the Deitics. You think I’d be safe? That your beloved N-Class would be safe?”
In a burst of anger, Photeianos reached forward, attempting to grab Veekay. Veekay calmly stepped back and swatted away Photeianos’s hand, tutting.
“I can sense other Deitics. Took me a while to figure out. One day, I asked myself why I felt safer around the N-Class than I did around my own brothers. That was when it clicked for me. They’re the children of Deitics as well. Not as… directly as you and I. One step below.”
“Are you threatening my children?” Photeianos growled.”
It was Veekay’s turn to look confused. “I… I knew they were quarter-Deitics… I did not know they… were your children…” Veekay quickly snapped out of his confusion. “Doesn’t matter. None of that matters. All that matters is that we continue to defy Stasis and his insane whispers. If we do, then your deals, your power, your time as High General, it all means nothing.”
Photeianos nodded.
“You are a wise little Rethan. Shame your brother does not see things the same way.”
“Being wise has nothing to do with it,” Veekay sighed as he turned around and walked away. “It’s just common sense. Elkay just wanted to know if you still had it.”
Photeianos watched as the young Ksa drifted away. Deep down in his stomach, a knot of shame started to rise.